Ferrari boss tells Lewis Hamilton what he is expected to achieve before end of F1 season

Lewis Hamilton has been told by his Ferrari boss that he is expected to make it to the Formula 1 podium before the year is out. The seven-time champion has yet to finish in the top three of a Grand Prix since making the switch to the Scuderia.

It has been a testing first season in red for the Brit since he made the switch from Mercedes. It has been a campaign with few highlights, other than the sprint victory he took in just his second outing as a Ferrari driver, the sprint race at the Chinese Grand Prix back in March.

Before the summer break, Hamilton looked to be at his lowest mentally in the midst of a chastening Hungarian Grand Prix where he failed to score. He also did not finish in Zandvoort when the season resumed, though he was more upbeat having unlocked more pace from his car.

And he was even more positive at Monza at the weekend as he finished sixth in his first Italian Grand Prix driving for the home team. Hamilton gained four places in the race having been fifth fastest in qualifying, dropping to 10th on the grid because of a penalty.

He has yet to make it to the podium in a Grand Prix representing Ferrari, but retains the support of the team's fans in Italy. And he also still has the backing of team principal Frederic Vasseur.

The Frenchman said after the Monza race that he believes it is simply a matter of time before he sees the 40-year-old back at the sharp end of the grid. "Yes, we can expect him to be on the podium," said Vasseur.

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The team's result at Monza was not eye-catching, as Charles Leclerc finished fourth and Hamilton sixth in front of Ferrari's loyal army of fans. But still there was obvious vocal support for both drivers and the Brit in particular despite his difficult start to life with the team.

And Vasseur believes that helped his driver to produce a strong performance. He said: "I think the energy he received from the Tifosi on Wednesday, Thursday in Milan was something very special for him. It was something mega and I think this gave him an extra boost all over the weekend."

Ferrari are the only team in the top four yet to win a Grand Prix this year, but are still second in the championship regardless. They are 20 points ahead of Mercedes and 41 clear of Red Bull as they all battle to finish as runner-up behind runaway leaders McLaren who have dominated the season and are 337 points clear at the top.

"I think we have a couple of tracks where we are supposed to be also in good shape, starting with the next one," said Vasseur. "We are historically always in good shape in Baku. For sure, the goal is to finish P2 in the championship. McLaren is on another planet."